PALMER STATION
SCIENCE SITREP JUNE 1998
NEWS FROM THE LAB. Diane Wetterlin, Winter Assistant Supervisor,
Laboratory Operations
Everything has been moved out of Bio Lab Store except for a couple of
desks, a metal grey cabinet (containing laptops, binoculars, GPSs)
and one section of shelving. Once FMC got the shelving assembled in
the Machine shop the move down there went rather quickly. The
transferring of location from Bio Lab Store to Machine shop in Mapcon
takes a little longer, we are about 40% done. Half of the inventory
that was distributed to the various labs was spare parts in an
attempt to minimize the confusion of everyone working here next
season. Other major items that did not get put in the Machine shop
are: the metal grey cabinet containing microscopes and microscopy
supplies went to lab 6, illuminators for the scopes are in Lab 7, all
the manifolds are in Lab 9, Lab 5 has many of the office supplies and
small scientific implements, Chart paper is located in a wooden
cabinet hung in Lab 1, Beckman centrifuge supplies will be above or
close to the Optima XL centrifuge, many aquarium items were moved
into the aquarium, the molecular biology items are in the warm van.
This is just a summery, I am sure that I have overlooked several
items. I tried to stick to some logical reasoning for the
relocations but sometimes it just came down to where there was space.
To sum up first floor right now, everyone is back where they should
be and equipment is in the right room but things are not organized,
put away or clean. Lab 4 has never been touch and is my reprieve,
for when I am feeling overwhelmed I go to Lab 4 and close the door.
This way I can envision the rest of the labs looking this good and
see a light at the end of the tunnel.
The sprinkler system has been installed in the SSL office and the
former Bio Lab Stores, and work should start soon in the aquarium
Since there was still some finishing touches to do on the third floor
Bio Lab, FMC made an agreement with people moving in that the workers
would be allowed to enter the rooms during the day. Without
hesitation people happily agreed. You could almost feel and hear the
collected sigh of relief and joy from the station as people moved
into their own rooms.
We had a nice station family day for Midwinter celebration. A group
of people put together a table full of some, not only delicious but
beautifully presented, Hors d oeuvres. Those daring enough did a
midwinter plunge off the pier followed by some therapeutic time in
the thermal equalizer. In the late afternoon steaks were thrown on
the Bar-B-Que for dinner. After dinner the Comms Tech made a special
toast, with wine sent to him from the Comms Tech at Vernansky, to all
those wintering in Antarctica. This was followed by a generous slice
of the most delicious mud pie I have ever sunk my teeth into. I
think everyone had a very pleasantly satisfying day.
Not much new on the critter front. Same guys hanging around,
Sheathbills, Terns, Cormorants, Kelp Gulls, Elephant, Crabeater
and Fur Seals, Snow Petrel and of course my favorite to watch
flying the Giant Petrels. Had a claimed sighting of a Cape Petrel
but I don t believe it was ever confirmed. A week or so ago a
Weddel seal camped out by the pump house for a night. (Note to
S-009, it was not tagged), haven t seen too many of them since I
have been here. Today we watched a cormorant eat a fish that was
at least half his size and probably weighed as much if not more
than he did. Don t know my fish in this part of the world but its
shape reminded me of a bullhead.
Weather this month is probably the big head line. On June 13th we
were blessed to see one of Mother Natures more spectacular art
pieces, Nacreous Clouds. It was one of the few days that I worked
downstairs in the Grantee office instead of by a window in the SSL
office. Luckily someone remember I was there and came in all
excited to tell me to come look outside but didn t say at what.
When I walked outside from the Aquarium room I had no idea what to
expect, I suspected whales, but as I looked up I saw them displayed
above the glacier. For a second I could hardly breath. I felt like
I was witnessing either something divine or extra terrestrial. I was
close, at 28.5 Km they are as close to anything I will see visiting
from outer space. The centers of the clouds were so bright that you
could hardly look at them. This was ringed by an ever-changing
brilliant array of iridescent colors.
The rest of the big weather news for June was how warm and wet
it was. Average temperature was 1.1 C up from last months 2.7
C. The melted precipitation also went up 24.8mm to 75.5mm
partially do to the 34cm increase in snow, making the total snow
for the month 63cm. Otherwise the numbers look about the same
as last month; number of days with precipitation 21 with 17 of
those being snow days, average wind was 9 knots, 24 days of overcast,
2 partly cloudy and 4 clear days. Although the precipitation for
June was up, the month ended with 21cm of snow cover, only 6cm more
snow than last month. Considering June started with 15 cm of snow
from May there was a lot of melting going on this month. The maximum
snow depth occurred on the 13th of June with 54cm, with the minimum
occurring on the 21st with 5cm. It has been only two weeks since our
days have started to lengthen but several people say they can already
tell the difference. The computer says we now have 4 hours and 10
minutes of daylight.
S-085 GPS CONTINUOUS OPERATION REFERENCE STATION. J. Mullins,
U.S. Geological Survey
The station science technician has monitored the system.
During the month GPS data was collected continuously, converted daily
to a RINEX format, compressed, and transmitted to the US Geological
Survey in Reston, VA.
S-091 GLOBAL SEISMOGRAPH STATION AT PALMER STATION. R. Butler,
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS)
The station science technician has operated the system.
Seismic events were recorded throughout the month. The helicorder
laser printer was repaired, and the system is fully operational.
S-106 STUDIES OF LIGHTNING-INDUCED ELECTRON PRECIPITATION OF THE
IONOSPHERE. U. Inan, Stanford University
The station science technician has monitored the system.
The Stanford receiver records very low frequency (VLF) radio waves
for studying ionospheric and magnetospheric natural phenomena. All
operations were normal this month.
S-204 MEASUREMENTS OF ATMOSPHERIC O2 IN RELATION TO THE GLOBAL
CARBON CYCLE. Ralph Keeling, Scripps Institution of
Oceanography
Air samples are collected on a semi-weekly basis by the station
physician. The samples are return shipped to Scripps for
analysis of O2 and CO2 content. The goal of the program is to
resolve seasonal and interannual variations in atmospheric O2
(detected through changes in O2/N2 ratio) which can aid in the
determination of rates of marine biological productivity and
ocean mixing and aid in the separation of the global sink for
anthropogenic CO2 into terrestrial and oceanic components. The
program involves air sampling at a network of sites in the
Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Palmer Station is especially
well situated to resolve signals due to carbon cycling in the
Southern Ocean.
S-254 CHLORINE-AND BROMINE-CONTAINING TRACE GASES IN ANTARCTICA.
R.A. Rasmussen, Oregon Graduate Institute for Science and
Technology
Air samples are taken on a weekly basis by the station physician.
The samples are returned to the Institute for analysis of a number of
trace components, especially chlorine-and bromine-containing gases.
These elements have been implicated in the chemical processes that
contribute to the austral-spring depletion of the ozone layer over
Antarctica. This work will contribute to a better understanding of the
buildup of trace constituents, particularly those of high-latitude
marine origin.
S-257C COLLECTION OF ATMOSPHERIC AIR FOR THE NOAA\CMDL WORLDWIDE
FLASK SAMPLING NETWORK. James T. Peterson, Environmental
Research Laboratories, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Air samples are taken on a weekly basis by the station physician.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate
Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory team continue long-term
measurements of trace atmospheric constituents that influence climate.
The Palmer Station air samples are returned to the NOAA laboratory
for analysis of trace constituents, including carbon dioxide. These
measurements are part of NOAA's effort to determine and assess the
long-term buildup of global pollutants in the atmosphere. These data
will be used to determine how the rate of change of these parameters
affects climate, particularly by including them in climate model
studies.
S-275 UM/DOE-EML REMOTE ATMOSPHERIC MEASUREMENTS PROGRAM.
C. Sanderson, Department of Energy, Environmental
Measurements Laboratory
The station science technician has operated the system.
One sample filter was exposed for the duration of each week, and
a weekly schedule of calibration, background, and sample counts was
maintained. The RAMP system is part of a global network seeking to
characterize the quantity and distribution of radionuclide particles
occurring both naturally and artificially in the atmosphere.
T-312 TERASCAN SATELLITE IMAGING SYSTEM. R. Whritner, Scripps
Institution of Oceanography
The station science technician has operated the system.
Throughout the month, the TeraScan system collected, archived, and
processed DMSP and NOAA satellite pass telemetry, maintaining a
schedule of 17-19 passes per day. NOAA and DMSP telemetry was
archived for S-032 when the LTER grid was clear. Automated Weather
Station (AWS) transmissions were monitored from Bonaparte Point,
Hugo Island, and RACER Rock using the TeraScan system. The AWS at
Bonaparte Point was repaired.
T-513 UV MONITORING NETWORK. C. Booth, Biospherical
Instruments, Inc.
The station science technician has operated the system.
Throughout the month, raw irradiance data scans were collected daily
and transmitted to BSI, and preliminary irradiances and spectral
integrals were produced in support of Science. Scheduled absolute
calibration scans were performed, and the science technician assisted
Biospherical Instruments with additional calibrations and diagnosis
of the UV monitor operation.